An Interview with Charlie Demos, August 2026
How would you describe your sound?
The Barbarous Lust Child of an enchanting Siren bloviating below deck and a broody moody, heavy breathing weirdo watching his favorite piece of meat sleep while concocting his tenderly predatory next move. Sonic snap shots leading nowhere. Jagged blue melodies falling down old wooden staircases.
Who/what inspires your music?
The Universe blessed me with 3 incredible mentors: Tom Bogdan, Stephen Bach and David Sabella. Kind, Supportive but tough! inspiring; These men paved the way for me providing superior foundational techniques paired with powerful, real-world wisdom-based guidance. Film and literature have been powerful muses stimulating my sonic landscape. Some examples include Derek Jarman, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Catherine Breillat, Gregg Araki, Baldwin, Bukowski, de Sade, Joyce, Kafka, Kerouac, etc. The Occult, Witchcraft, Shamanism, and Metaphysics are also deep sources of inspiration.
What does making music mean to you? What got you into it/keeps you continuing?
Making music is the purest expression of who I am. The sound of my soul reverberating through time and space. An offering from one human man to fold into the grand symphony of the universe. Creative expression has always been a necessity. Writing a heartfelt letter, improvising a song in the moment based on how I feel - these things are much easier for me than just being in the world without that special magick. I used to “score” my day, sing out a spontaneous soundtrack to transmute the monotony of the mundane. Making music helps me emotionally regulate, process complex feelings and thought patterns. There were a handful of years I was not actively singing and making music. I had chosen to focus on building other aspects of myself. What a horrendous choice I had made; the shrinkage was staggering! Powerful aspects of self put away, covered up, downplayed and hidden yielded dangerously destructive results. My entire quality of life fell into ruin. I taught myself a valuable lesson about what music and creativity really are for me: Life, breath, pulse, blood, cum, tears; all the shit that can’t release any other way, the armor, the power, the funky jet fuel propulsion to feeling worthy, valuable or like I’m contributing something, fucking anything.
You describe yourself as both a musician and an author! How do those two passions exist within your routine? Does one inspire the other/do they overlap or are they more separate endeavors?
An artist is an Artist. Nothing is separate. Every expression is part of a greater whole. Description can frame a cursory context, but definition should not occur automatically. I do not define myself as a “musician” and/or “writer.” Rather, I am an Artist who chooses the media of music and the written word to pour my creative power into at this time. It can be very challenging to not limit ourselves as human beings. Everyday I create intentional effort to get out of my own way. So, I encourage singers to make films and painters to make songs. I want to see more writers dancing and dancers sculpting or composing. Get the idea? Why the hell not! An onslaught of labels can prematurely warp the landscape in which an artist can express themselves, mutating a wide-open void of infinite possibility into a crush-canned compressed, auto tuned sack of shit dressed up in heady expensive skuzz juice. I’ve never wanted to sound like anyone else or “come across” in the vein of someone else’s energy signature. Some people say, “what’s the through line of your work?” Me. I’m the through line, the bi-line, never the blind lie, rarely the bland guy. No, I’m every fucking line. Often times, I choose to scribble wildly outside said lines. Experience it and move on.
In terms of what artistic medium remains dominant or “leads the way”: The Music always comes first-a sound, a whisper of a tune, a melody, a rhythm, a mantra, a spell…from the musical landscape, I fit words into the overall sound mood or environment, if you will. I don’t believe lyrics should be super wordy, complex, or deep. I want the words to follow the sound, like a floundering love drunk skunk who couldn’t possibly convey any sentiment that would outshine or compare to what the music lays bare through vibration, bending pitches and timing.
Writing on its own is a different beast altogether. It showcases my inner world without my innate musicality framing or enhancing anything. It’s raw, brutal and unrelenting. It’s the thoughts and feelings of a man who’s self aware enough to know he’s got nothing to lose but his own head, dick and balls by being completely fucking candid.
How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired/how do you work through creative blocks?
I’m a naturally disciplined person. The foundation of consistent, unfaltering discipline strengthens the technique of the artist in their chosen medium while also creating a permanent intentional priority to show up for one’s craft. So, if you’re always showing up? You’re never really stuck. There is always intention and action. Even if I think it’s shitty, corny, trite, whatever. Turn myself inside out. I don’t have anything to hide. I want to lead by example. There are so many artists I long to see turn themselves inside out.
My daily yoga practice continues to provide powerful guiding light for this terrain. Mantras to boost creative potency, clarify the third eye, reignite willpower, etc. Chanting can be immensely powerful to dispel mind set traps and interrupt stifling thought form cycles. I don’t believe in creative blocks. Maybe the mind is processing something that was unearthed from a previous creative attempt or endeavor. Perhaps the nervous system is playing catch up to a mixture of feelings or even a revelation, a healing moment. Many factors are at play in our human experience as creative beings. I’m always creating something! We all are.
What is your creative process like? Is it more organized & session based or more sporadic and fleeting?
Mostly, I create in solitude. Even back in the day when I used to work at fancy recording studios with cool engineers and skilled musicians, I wanted that place all to myself…to shut out the lights and go full boar. After decades of strict self-imposed discipline, my process has evolved to be more of a wide-open space. I do a daily vocal warm up to get myself stretched and ready to sing. From there, I just start to improvise, usually the Blues. I may meditate, chant. I’m looking for the sound to take me over, get me out of
my own way. “The I vibration” blasting out the bullshit of “Gee, wonder what people will think if they hear me do this?!” I’m always aiming to spill my guts, spread my legs wide and let everything air out.
Which song of yours do you consider to be your favorite? Why?
“Parasite”
Parasite was such a wild fun time to create! Recorded in a hotel room closet in New Orleans, high off a couple of pot gummies (thanks, Mike!) with a nice simple makeshift set up. I added 11+ vocal parts for myself, warping the reverb, chaotic panning hog wild in the mix. The gremlins were fed heavy helpings of the good stuff after midnight and they just kept multiplying! “Parasite” is a great representation of me fully off the leash- simply creating as I go, happily dancing in the chaos, indulging every fucking ridiculous idea (holding the space for yourself where ALL ideas are acceptable can be an interesting challenge! Try it.) It feels green, black, white and purple. My Beetlejuice Striped Pipe stripped of sanity. Pansexual Pandemonium. I watched “Lair of the White Worm” that night. Talk about a Grand Parasite of Delight!“STAB”
Standing in an iron pool absent of shame; “STAB” is a Lilithian admission. It’s Red, serrated; pungent warm flesh marrying measured, cold steel. An agoraphobic exploration through the primal violence of sexuality. The hurried heartbeat of a serial sex stalker trippin balls dripping blood on all the walls. The metaphor of stabbing to celebrate a good hard fuck. It’s my “coming out song,” announcing my presence as a Primal fucking Dom! “STAB” makes me feel seen and understood…by force. Force Majeur lol.
No limitations, what is your biggest dream or goal for your music? (dream venue, project, benchmark, anything!)
2026 is my 20-year anniversary as a professional Artist. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. I want to continue creating and sharing my work with the world. I want to say Yes to a myriad of exciting projects and opportunities. More music, more writing, more film, more performances. I would love to collaborate with other artists, explore new terrain; continue to evolve.
What does the future hold/what are you working towards right now?
I will continue to promote my book,
“Wily Rage Bile,” while preparing for live shows and multi-media performance art events. I am conceptualizing a short film music video. Having been a student of Carnatic music for about 2 years now, I’m extremely passionate about recording original pieces in this style, so ideas are flowing in that realm. I am always creating and putting my work out there. I am grateful to anyone who checks it out.
Check them out HERE!!
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